MICHEÁL MARTIN HAS pledged €72 million from Ireland to the an international effort to fight deadly diseases, including HIV and malaria.

The Taoiseach was met with applause after making the announcement while addressing the Global Fund forum in Johannesburg, South Africa, which was taking place ahead of the nation’s hosting of the G20 summit this weekend.

It came about different nations, large and small, pledged sums ranging from in the billions to millions to the programme.

Ireland is a guest at this weekend’s gathering following an invite from South Africa, and this evening’s events saw Martin seated to the right hand of the host nation’s president Cyril Ramaphosa as country after country pledged fresh support for the Global Fund’s work.

He noted that it was a “10% increase on the previous monies committed from Ireland, which he said underscored the State’s support for the group’s “transformative” work.

“We may be facing uncertainties, but notwithstanding all of that, Ireland is resolute in our support for efforts to achieve the collective ambition of the agenda of 2030 sustainable development goals and to see an end to the epidemics of HIV, AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria by 2030,” Martin told an audience at Sandton conference centre.

“So on behalf of the people of Ireland today, I am confirming a pledge of €72 million.”

The Taoiseach during his address tonight in Johannesburg Debbie Yazbek Debbie Yazbek

Martin said this was a “clear signal” of Ireland’s ongoing commitment to global health, to fighting disease and to improving and saving lives.

It came as part of multiple addresses by senior political leaders across Europe and Africa who repeatedly emphasised the importance of global cooperation.

They reiterated the word ‘multilateral’ as they sought to try and lessen the damage of Trump’s pulling back from international agreements.

While not mentioning him by name, the different speeches were essentially an attempt at rebuking US president Donald Trump.

Trump has boycotted this year’s summit, despite the US due to over the presidency of the G20 from Sunday onwards.

In its address, Germany’s Vice Chancellor and Minister of Finance Lars Klingbeil said it would remain a committed partner in multilateral developments.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer told the audience that there was a need for international partners to “usher in a new era of private finance” to help poorer countries.

This would include reforming the international financial system, the UK Labour leader said.

Starmer said nations needed to come together to tackle “unsustainable” debt faced by many countries, adding that the UK is well placed to help.